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On Saturday February 15, 2014 I visited the new Butterfly Haven located in El Valle. Yes I am truly lucky & blessed - I visited a wonderful butterfly haven while many North Americans suffered thru extreme February cold & snow.

Oh yeah one of the butterflies even landed on my shirt and wanted to return to my home in Coronado with me (just 28 miles away)... but don't worry I was very careful & made every effort not to hurt this butterfly & I did not remove God's special creature from its new found home in the El Valle Butterfly Haven.

-Story courtesy of Best Places In The World To Retire. To see more stories like this, copy this into your web browser: www.bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com

and this is the area I moved to a long time ago, in 1985. I was lucky to get to know Panama from the "inside out", being exposed to the folklore of the Los Santos Province and its music and festivities.

Getting to know some deep traditions was the highlight of my move abroad, my kids growing up in a sane and safe environment with Spanish being their first language. All in all a well-balanced upbringing for a child if you ask me.

Beautiful Playa Venao is surrounded by raw nature, the tropical dry forest (which Expats are now reforesting to bring back the wildlife that vanished due to the lack of habitat) with its animals, the ocean with its abundance of life, we always have a beautiful playground all around. Spending time with the locals is also always a favorite.

The slowly cooling ocean is very welcome to refresh us from the hot hot sun, playing in the waves is just so much fun.

Temperatures drop sharply this time of year due to the oceans upwelling, which brings the water from the bottom up to the surface, including its fish, which therefore attracts many seabirds.

What a magical place it is...

-Story courtesy of Best Places In The World To Retire. To see more stories like this, copy this into your web browser: www.bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com

Fecha de publicación: 08 January 2014Escrito por: Renate Jope

On Saturday, my mother and I visited the 35thCoffee and Flowers fair in Boquete, a traditional event taking place each year from the 10th- 21 of January.

This year displaying a beautifully clear, sunny, and windy weather as a backdrop, with occasional Bajareque mist, reminding us we were indeed in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Boquete has experienced a complete transformation with so many changes and improvements since I returned to Panama as an expat several years ago. The festivities of the Fair certainly emphasize the distinct beauty of its Nature with the abundance of flowers, the magnificent coffee plantations producing the world renowned geisha coffee, the majesty of the Caldera River which borders the fair grounds and most importantly the friendliness and welcoming smile of its people.

Myriad of tourists and visitors from all over the country filled the grounds and stands. Vendors from Central and South America presenting and selling their native, typical goods. Restaurants with long lines waiting to eat. Hotels and Hostels with no vacancies. No doubt this year’s fair brings prosperity to our beautiful town Boquete.

-Story courtesy of Best Places In The World To Retire. To see more stories like this, copy this into your web browser: www.bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com

Fecha de publicación: 08 January 2014Escrito por: Vicky Wilson

Torio is a small town on Panamas Azuero peninsula. It is an undeveloped region with people who live a simple but interesting way. There is a fishing village that is very friendly and the people cooperate and respect tourists. Little do they know how privileged they are to live in a place where the Humboldt current passes and an abundance of pelagic fish pass through the region.

Torio's coastline has views of Isla Cebaco and has a surfing beach that is fairly unknown to those who don't practice the sport. This region was the hometown to Victorio Vergara who is a famous Tipico musician and people take pride in this. Few foreigners have moved to the region, but these pioneers will be the first to enjoy a paradise that is filled with mountainous landscapes, rivers, waterfalls and abundant flora and fauna.

I love visiting Torio because it takes you back to another time, a place where nature and the people unite in harmony. As a photographer I like to take images of how beautiful the place is, even though its not the type of photography I specialize in. If you get a chance hop in a car, go to Torio and don't expect anything but let yourself explore and discover everything this secret place has to offer.

-Story courtesy of Best Places In The World To Retire. To see more stories like this, copy this into your web browser: www.bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com